The practice of obtaining a so-called “nomad” visa became popular a few years ago. It is mainly a preferred practice by people in the IT sector because of the freedom to work from anywhere in the world, which was contributed by the global pandemic in 2020. After the massive development of remote technology that allows mobility, many professionals started to combine the useful with the pleasant and choose to work in various exotic and interesting places, wrote Gizmodo.

The destinations on this list include some of the most desirable places when planning to live the expat life through various digital nomad visa programs.

Spain
Spain is introducing its own digital nomad visa, adding to the list of nearly 50 countries that have introduced it in recent years. The country’s parliament approved the visa last November and it will allow non-EU nationals to stay in Spain for up to five years.

The visas are being made available as a way for people working remotely to travel and live in the country, provided they meet the necessary requirements.

Like many other countries that have introduced a visa for digital nomads, Spain has introduced several requirements. The visa requires all applicants to work at a company that has been operating for more than one year, pass a background check, and have an income exceeding at least 200% of the current minimum wage in Spain. The minimum wage amounts to approximately EUR 1,260 (USD 1,361) per month or EUR 28,196 (USD 30,240) per year.

Estonia
The digital nomad visa was introduced here in July 2020, allowing foreigners to live and work in Estonia for up to a year.

Requirements include:

• Telecommuting outside the country.
• Have an active employment contract with a company registered abroad or work as a freelancer for clients outside Estonia.
• Income must be a minimum of 4,500 euros ($4,826) in the six months prior to visa application.

Hungary
Hungary’s digital nomad visa, called the “White Card,” was introduced last year and allows applicants to live and work in the country for up to two years.

Requirements include:

• Working for an employer outside Malta.
• Must work remotely using “telecommunications technology”.
• The company you work for must be registered outside Hungary.
• Income must be a minimum of €2,000 ($2,145) per month.

Malta
Malta introduced the digital nomad visa in June 2021 and allows applicants and their families to live in the country for up to a year.

Requirements include:

• You must be a third-country national.
• Work for a company registered in another country or offer freelance services to clients in another country.
• Income must be a minimum of €2,700 ($2,896) per month.

Iceland
The digital nomad visa was introduced in Iceland in October 2021 and allows foreigners to stay in the country for 180 days.

Requirements include:

• Working for a company in another country
• Income must be a minimum of €6,992 ($7,500) per month.

Portugal
Portugal introduced a digital nomad visa in October 2022 that allows applicants to live and work in the country for up to a year.

Requirements include:

• You must not be an EU citizen
• Provide proof of working for a company outside the EU
• A minimum income of €2,545 ($2,730) per month.
• Show proof that you have received this amount in the four months prior to your application.

Germany
Although Germany does not have a special visa for digital nomads, it does have a freelance visa that allows a person to live and work in the country for three months. The period can be extended to three years, but this is done on a case-by-case basis.

Thailand
The digital nomad visa, or LTR visa, opened to foreigners in September 2022 and allows applicants to stay legally for up to 10 years.

Requirements include:

• You must earn a minimum of 74,581 euros ($80,000) for a foreign company.
• Must be covered by health insurance consisting of $50,000.
• Their company must be located outside Thailand and be well established.

Dubai
March 2021. Dubai introduced the Digital Nomad Visa, which allows applicants to live and work in the country for up to a year.

Requirements include:

• A passport valid for at least six months.
• Must have health insurance and validity of coverage in the UAE.
• Proof of having an employer outside the UAE.
• Must be earning a minimum of $3,500 per month.

Mauritius
Located north of Madagascar, Mauritius introduced a digital nomad visa in October 2020 that allows applicants to stay in the country for up to one year.

Requirements include:

• You must not work for a company in Mauritius.
• The employer must be located outside the country.